Food handling spoon



Sept. 25, 1951 J. LANCHART Foco HANDLING sPooN Filed Feb. 18, 1949 ffm/,1,2m INVENTOR.

I JACK LANCHART .z- -5.' BY @i g E) Patented Sept. Z5, 1951 FOOD HANDLINGrSPOON .Jack Lambert, lrolslynLNJ- l Application February 18, 1949, Serial No. I77,221

4 Claims.

Y This invention relates to new and useful improvements in Yfood handling implements, and, more particularly, the aim is `toV providewa novel and valuable implem-entfor u se in the kitchen and/r at aservingor dining table.

More specically, the invention provides an improved spooning implement so constructed and @arranged that thereare carried by a single spoon @handle anfunderlying spoonand an overlying frame-like member, with those `two elementsrespectively carried at the forward ends of longi- .atndinalsupportsor shank` portions and with such `zshanks.extended awayrfrom ,the spOOn for pro- .long ation.to, participate jointly in forming the ontenend portion ofthe handle; vandin combi-V ...nation with tneieaturesiust explained 0I1e0f ..said .shanksI isat-its onterend preferably bent Vinto asuhstantially; Z.shaped terminal formationsothatthe middle limb, of the Z may sub- ..stantia1ly vertically cross the other shank for ,securementto lan endY of a,pr olongation pf the ,v .shank last-named.

With this` arrangement, and with the butt end ,of ther handle vconstituted by., a curvilinearly and substantially. semi-,circularly archedintermediate. portionv of -the '.last-named-shank` prolongag Ytion :thereby forwardlyl to. extendgtheend portion .-.of said last-named. shank `prolongation for the .securement .above stated, and with the said arched portionof theother fshank of resilient material, asof aresilient metal, animplement -is. .provided whereinmthe :upper frame-like mem- ;ber isnornially resiliently urged to atwise ex- Y ,.tension o.v.er and close to theupper rim'of the rlowerspoon element. :Thus when Vthe handle .is squeezed.. the ,twoelementsseparata to pro- .-,.vide ,.a..seizing instrumentality, and when the squeczingpressure isV relieved ;the two elements ...come together. again, tongs-fashion.

lThe .newimplement therefore, can be used to vvgrasp a fish,. a partpfa chicken, a steak or any pfoodpiece, and lift the lsameout of a pot, frys ingpanor the likewithout piercing the food.

Said implement, also, canbeused for the serv- -ringof gravies and-the like.out of a cooking orv table` utensih. and in .this connection apref erred Ifeature .of Vthe inventionisthe, addition to the framc-likamember ofV a foraminous wall, as one of wire-mesh, for providing a strainer-means functionable incidental to `such a serving. This straining means vcan bepermanently carried by .the frameelike-memberoromitted entirely from .theimplemenapn detachaloly carried thereby.

iFiorf further .comprehension ofv Vthe invention, .rand-lof fthenbiegtsand.advantages :iherptfreference will be had tothe following description embodiment of the fooddhandling spoon con structed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is aI side elevation thereof; the parts being shown in vfull lines in normal relation, and in dot and dash lines ,withthe frame-like meinber raised olf the spoon.

Fig. 3 is abottom plan viewxof the outerI end portion ofthe handle.

Fig. 4 fis .a fragmentary horizontal section, takenonthe linedf4 of Fig. 2.

Fig.,5 ,is a slightly enlarged vertical ,section, takenon lthe line,5.5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a substantially horizontal section, taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, showing the spoon in top plan.

, Fig. 7 `illustrates a modification, characterized by the, inclusion of a. strainer;means adapted for Aready attachment to theuplczer frame-like member, and `f or ready( detachment therefrom as yfor therplllpOSe of facilitatingthorough cleanv`ingof all the implement parts or for use ofthe implement with a strainer-means omitted; in this view the matchingmoutlines of the frame- 4 like v,member and the spoon are indicated indot 4 (y, SllitS.

Referring Vto the/drawings ,more lin detail, and V`first to Figs. 1 -6,thev bottom spoon is designated i@which it .will be notedis of standard shape and .over which a frame-like `member Il is positioned. Rearwardly rigidly extended fromthe spoon vlil andthe frame-likemember lll respec- `tive-ly, are shankportions IZand Ill. The shank portion l2 hasV a transversely` .elongated slot l5. .The buttvend portion [Spf the handle of the spoon Il `is lshown as substantially semicircularly. arched as at, l1, there being forwardly ex- ,.tended from s uch4 arching an upper handle eX- tensionyl .integranwith theshankl-portion I2 ,andalsoa lower. handle extensionz I9, having its .free .-terrninus.; .substantially` vertically v.below nthe full lines. handle grasped in the hand, however, the exslot I5. The rearward terminal portion 20 of the shank portion I4 is bent to form a substantially Z-shaped extension, and the middle limb of such Z substantially vertically crosses the shank portion I2 by passage through the Slot I5. The bottom terminal limb of said Z lies on the forward end portion of the extension I9 and is there secured by a pair of rivets 2| countersunk at both ends so as to establish easily cleanable flush surfaces as shown best in Fig. 5.

AS has already been said, a strainer-means may be omitted, but such means is here shown as permanently including a wire-mesh sheet 22. Said sheet may be secured to the frame-like member II in any suitable and practicable way, but this securement, as herein illustrated by way of example, is provided for by adding a sheet metal stamping 23 conforming substantially in frame-like character to the frame-like member I I. Y The sheet 22 around its margin is sandwiched between the frame-like member II and the stamping 23, and a suitable number of clamping `and bonding means are employed, for instance,

spot weldings as indicated at 24 in Fig. 1.

Normally, the parts are disposed as shown in With the outer end portion of the tensions I8 and I9 of the outer end portion of the handle may be squeezed together, as for causing them to assume the dispositions indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 at I2L and Illa, thereby to separate the spoon I0 and the frame-like member I I, as indicated at II)Il and I Ia in dot and ydash lines in Fig. 2. Immediately on relieving such squeezing force, the spoon IIJ and the framelike member I I automatically seek to restore themselves to the relation Vshown in full lines in Fig. 2, and so gently but adequately arrive at dependable grasping engagement relative to the piece of food selected.V Similarly, the implement may be used for ladling :and serving a gravy or thelike.

--Referring to the modication shown in Figs.

Y 7 to 10, and wherein the parts to which are applied reference numerals with primes added correspond, respectively, to the parts to which in Figs. 1 and 2 are applied reference numerals with- Y out primes, the sheet 22' of wire-mesh is gripped y indicated at 26, there for gripping the sheet 22.

The ring 25 is laterally extended around the end V,thereof which is somewhat pointed to conform to the outer end of the frame-like member I I and also part way along both sides of the frame-like member II', for there providing a downwardly and then inwardly projected ange 21 for slipin attachment to the frame-like member II as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 when said ring is endwisely applied to the frame-like member II' at the end of the ring 25 carrying :an upstanding tab 28 shaped for extension as best shown in Fig. 8.

Said tab 2B adjacent to its root portion is pierced by a suitable aperture 28a from which are extended oppositely located slits 29. These provisions are for permitting ready passage through the aperture 28a of the rounded upper head of a stud 30 suitably carried Iat the location shown on the shank I 4 of the frame-like member II' by snap yield of the tab-28-adjacent material of the ring 25 at the slits 29; this material being described.

understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a kitchen utensil having a spoon and an upper frame-like member overlying the spoon and having a shank portion projecting radially from one side of the frame-like member, a strainer for releasable attachment to the top face of the upper frame-like member, said strainer comprising a ring overlying the upper frame-like member and corresponding to the shape thereof, a wire mesh mounted across said ring, a tab projecting laterally from one side of said ring and overlying the shank portion of the upper frame-like member, and means releasably attaching said tab to the shank portion of the frame-like member for mounting said ring in position thereon.

2. In a kitchen utensil having a spoon and an upper frame-like member overlying the spoon and having a shank portion projecting radially from one side of the frame-like member, a strainer for releasable attachment to the top face of the upper frame-like member, said strainer comprising a ring overlying the upper frame-like member and corresponding to the shape thereof, a wire mesh mounted across said ring, a tab projecting laterally from one side of said ring and overlying the shank portion of the upper frame-like member, and means releasably attaching said tab to the shank portion of the frame-like member for mounting said ring in position thereon, said releasable attaching means comprising a headed stud projecting upwardly from the top face of the shank portion of the upper frame-like member, said tab being formed with an aperture through which the head of said stub is to be snapped.

3. In a kitchen utensil having a spoon and an upper frame-like member overlying the spoon and having a shank portion projecting radially from one side of the frame-like member, a strainer for releasable attachment to the top face of the upper frame-like member, said strainer comprising a ring overlying the upper frame-like member and corresponding to the shape thereof, a wire mesh mounted across said ring, a tab projecting laterally from one side of said ring and overlying the shank portion of the upper frame-like member, and means releasably attaching said tab to the shank portion of the frame-like member for mounting said ring in position thereon, and means attaching said ring at the side of the frame-like member opposite the side from which said tab projects to hold said ring against lateral shifting about said releasable attachment means as a pivot.

4. In a kitchen utensil having a spoon and an upper frame-like member overlying the spoon and having a shank portion projecting radially from one side of the frame-like member, a strainer for releasable attachment to the top face of the upper frame-like member, said strainer comprising a ring overlying the upper frame-like member and corresponding to the shape thereof, a wire mesh mounted across said ring, a tab projecting laterally from one side of said ring and overlying the shank portion of the upper frame-like member, and means releasably attaching said tab to the shank portion of the frame-like member for mounting said ring in position thereon, said releasable attaching means comprising a headed stud projecting upwardly from the top face of the shank portion of the upper frame-like member, said tab being formed with an aperture through which the head of said stud is to be snapped, and a downwardly and inwardly extended ange formed on said ring opposite said tab for engagement with said frame-like spoon for holding said ring against lateral shifting relative to the upper frame-like spoon about said headed stud as a pivot.

JACK LANCHART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,643,456 James sept. 27, 1927 2,010,074 Fuerst Aug. 6, 1935 2,455,623 Stone Dec. 7, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 49,105 Denmark July 28, 1934 

